The Brigade of Light make their home on the Long Lake of Valley Country. The original college now exists as a sprawling campus along the shore of the lake, and a small village grows around its fortress-like walls. To enter the University one must pass through two massive iron doors, both displaying the sigil for the Brigade on the front. Within the Academy lays the library, a warehouse of a room that holds a score of essays on the symbiotic link of Humanity and Kami in addition to numerous other subjects. Within the walls is also the humble Hikaru no Ryodan Shrine, where those sensitive to the Kami can be taught in the ways of the shrine maiden.

The Academy does not charge tuition for its lessons or fees for work by its agents. However, donations from University alumni or those helped by Brigade agents help to fund the growing campus. Construction can be heard all over Long Lake as the increasing fame of the Brigade of Light brings in money, for better and worse.

Belief:

It is the belief of the Brigade of Light that it is the despair and depravity of humanity that twists the Kami. These twisted Kami lead to natural disasters and supernatural creatures that threaten Humanity. By bringing hope and light to humanity the Brigade of Light can safeguard the Kami, and thus protect Humanity.

All work done by those in the Brigade of Light must be done free of charge. Brigadiers of the Brigade of Light may accept a warm meal or bed as payment for help rendered, or any other manner of gift, but cannot and will not demand any payment be made.

Goals:

The Brigade of Light has three mandates that members strive to follow.

I. Do Good

When people need help, help. When people need to be defended, defend. The Brigade of Light brings hope to those who despair in their time of need.

II. Heed the Will of God

Protect the Kami from defilement. Black Miko exist to twist those humanity’s prayers into curses.There are only two paths to dealing with a Black Miko, redemption or death.

III. Safeguard Against the Dark

What is the darkness that both Humanity and the Kami must be safeguarded against? No one is sure, but the resurgence of the Isle of Spirits and the Bijuu are a turning point in this Age. Whatever transpires the Brigade of Light will be there without hesitation to stand against what may come.

Membership
The Brigade of Light draws membership from any who would come knocking at their door, with a few exceptions. Any of good intent (as determined by the Headmaster) are allowed to enter the campus and study. However, gaining entry into the Brigade is a much harder task.

The two major groups who are not allowed into the Brigade of Light are those who belong to a foreign militaryand those who would commit evil acts for personal gain. The former is rather easy to prove, while the latter requires a test to be given to the person in order to determine their ‘worthiness’.

The Brigade of Light prides itself in its neutrality and any person working for a government by definition cannot be neutral, and therefore cannot join. Persons who once belonged to a government, or who once held evil beliefs, may of course recant their loyalties in an attempt to join. These circumstances are rare and require immense oversight by the elders of the Brigade to determine if the prospective member has had a change of heart, or are lying.

All non-shinobi types who are not loyal to a specific country or village are able to join or be registered. Shinobi may be registered in the Brigade of Light, but they must satisfy 2 conditions: they cannot belong to a village, and they cannot be evil. Villageless shinobi include Snow, missing nin, or anyone registered as otherwise villageless. ‘Not evil’ is up to GM discretion based on the biography of the registered character.

Shinobi who already exist and want to join follow the same rules, requiring that they be villageless and ‘not evil’. The thread history of the character will be examined, and if they are found to be reasonably ‘good’ then they may join. ‘Good’ is a bit vague but basically I’ll be looking for things like if the character instigated violence, caused unnecessary property damage, is a thief, committed cold blooded murderer, etc. Evil characters of course can have a change of heart and become good, but I’d need to see that in the most recent threads. I’m flexible though, so talk to me if you want to work it out!

Members each are given a unique white mask when joining, which signifies their allegiance to the Brigade. Often these are shaped like animals but can be any type of mask the member desires.

History:

Long before man learned to harness chakra there were the Kami and those who studied them. Those who wished to study the link between humanity and the Kami founded an Academy on the shores of Long Lake. Through study these academics found that the extreme reactions of the Kami correlated to negative human emotion. Over decades these ‘curses’ were tracked, their victims counted, and the data meticulously entered into massive logbooks.

The data was clear: as mental conditions of the afflicted grew worse, disasters seemed to spread. Crops withered and died. Livestock grew sick and frail. Some even projected if the curses spread far enough, civilization and society as known by man would crumbled and fall to the darkness.

The Academy wrote dissertations, filled scrolls, and published discovery after discovery. Humanity, they said, influenced spirits of the land, rather than the other way around. Despite heavy refutation from governments and priesthoods alike, these documents gained worldwide infamy. But that is all they gained. Nothing else came from the books and encyclopedias put out by the Academy. The accumulated wisdom of centuries fell on deaf ears. And, as the supernatural threat of the corrupted Kami faded in the memories of mankind, the Academy withdrew from the spotlight.

Twenty years ago, a man strode into their hallowed halls. The scholars could tell from a glance that he was a man of the blade, not of the pen. "What on earth could he want," they asked themselves.

That dormant, unused knowledge was the answer.

The warrior claimed he fought a sorcerer with magicks unknown to humanity. This foul conjurer he learned to be a Black Miko, spoken of in texts so ancient their pages almost dissolved into sand as he turned them. The man grew agitated and distraught as he learned how the Academy knew of this darkness, but did nothing about it.

"How can you do nothing, knowing what vile evil walks this earth?" The man asked when his studies concluded.

"We do something," one scholar answered. "We publish our writings."

"And what good is that! Ten thousand volumes of dust, forgotten by the world! Why do you not fight what you know to be rotting the world?" The man asked.

Another scholar looked away. "It is not our place."

The warrior drew his sword, "Then I shall make it mine."

And thus was born the Brigade.

Politics:
The Brigade of Light declares itself a neutral entity devoted to study and acquisition of knowledge as well as the extermination of evil. So far, this neutrality is respected by most parties.

-Valley Country: Within Valley Country the feelings for the Brigade are mixed. At best they are seen as an example of goodwill, and at worst they are seen inefficient scholars.

-Shinobi Countries: In general the Brigade does not interfere with the will of the elemental countries. However, the mandate of the Brigade forces members to stand against any acts of depravity to the general populace no matter who instigates the evil. Likewise a member of the Brigade can happily lend what assistance they can if their goals align with those of shinobi operatives.
-Last Legion of the Immortal Guard: Very rarely does the Brigade have any dealings with the Last Legion aside from entering and leaving the City of Kings. The Brigade is host to a number of Ronin who have split off from the Last Legion due to differences of opinion.
-High Wardens of Calamity Mountain: The Brigade will have no dealings with the High Wardens. While they respect the High Warden’s dedication, The Brigade of Light does not agree in how they go about their duties seeing it as a half-hearted measure.
-Brigade of Light: There exist within the Brigade many competing factions that are uncomfortable with the degree of militarization of the Brigade. As of now, the Headmaster permits open discussion of these issues, but is the final word on Brigade of Light policy.

Divisions
The Brigade of Light are NOT military, and do not operate as such. There is no chain of command, and each member is expected to act intelligently and within their own beliefs in so much as doing so would not harm the overall goals of the organization. However, a rank system of seniority does exist, with those higher on the ladder receiving more deference compared to those lower. Higher ranks are not 'stronger' or 'more important', rather they simply reflect those with greater duties and responsibilities within the group.

Brigadiers
Brigadiers are the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the Brigade. Most members fall into this division as it represents nothing but a basic membership into the organization. Brigadiers have access to all the Brigade of Light lists.

Headmaster – The leader of the Brigade of Light, decided each five years by election from all members. Currently held by Dr. Oho no Annei

First Brigadiers – Those who have earned the distinction to lead teams of Brigade members gain this title.Second Brigadiers– The base level Brigadier after promotion from Junior Brigadier. Represents full membership in the Brigade of Light.Junior Brigadiers – Those who first join the Brigade are assigned this rank until they have proven themselves worthy of more responsibility. Has no access to Brigade of Light lists.

Follows of the Path
Those who are Kami-sensitive and wish to become or already are mikos typically fall into this division. There is no requirement that shrine maidens or priests join the Hikaru no Ryogan shrine as the Brigade of Light is open to all (good intentioned) faiths. Followers of the Path have access to all Brigade of Light lists.

Pontiff – The head of the Hikaru no Ryodan Shrine, who manages its members and grounds. Currently held by the priest Kogyoku Tonegawa.

Eparch– The highest distinction possible for a Hikaru no Ryodan shrine maiden or priest.

Cenobite – The common rank most miko members of the Brigade of Light fall under.

Apostle – Introductory rank given to new students of the shrine. Has no access to Brigade of Light lists.

Scholars
Technically all students and teachers in the Academy are Brigade of Light members, though they are not expected to go out and slay evil like a Brigadier might. Scholars do not necessarily have access to all Brigade of Light lists and must ask permission to study them. They may still may perform Brigade of Light jobs and missions.

Dean of Studies – The Brigade of Light was and still is a university, and the Dean is in control of all academy happenings within the campus. Elected every six years by the professors. Currently held by Dr. Eikowasa Irio

Professor - Those who teach classes at the Academy, considered experts in their respective fields. Professorhood is earned through at least five years of teaching experience and having written at least 1 dissertation on a novel subject. Promotions to this level are frequently host to the bitter inter-personal politics of campus life.

Adjunct – Professors-in-training, adjuncts are most commonly seen doing the ‘grunt work’ of the academic world. This can mean grading papers, teaching night classes, or being out in the field collecting data for the professors research.

Neophyte – Not a rank so much as a simple title given to those who attend the University’s classes. Students are not technically Brigade of Light members, but can reside within its dormitories and attends its classes.

Physical Description:
Though trained as a warrior, Annei first started life as an aristocrat, and it shows. His figure is svelte and trim and his hair and body are immaculate. His face bears the sharp, strong features of royalty. And the hair! It shines and flows like that of a golden god. He speaks in grand, sweeping tones, as if every statement were a public speech. Yet in private he becomes solemn, contemplative, and tender. Oho no Annei does not need to boast- his presence and aura simply does all the talking for him.

Clothing:
As the Headmaster of the Brigade of Light as well as holding a formal royal title, Annei dresses as lavishly as might be expected. One can find him in fine white silks, comfortable furs, the gamut of precious leathers and brass armors, and anything else that might find itself in the vogue these days. In private, however, he tends to dress more humble and conservatively. He is fond of simple monastic robes. One must keep up appearances, however, so this is a much rarer sight compared to his more elegant public wardrobe.

Personality:
Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Annei discarded the politicking and double-talking life of the royal court politicians long ago. He is a firm believer in open debate and freely challenges those who would disagree with him to state their case. This makes him frustratingly slow to action at times. Annei’s commitment and steadfast principles have drawn a loyal crowd to serve him, and likewise he treats his comrades as family. Even those who fought him on the battlefield cannot besmirch his honor, as the man refuses to engage in tactics he sees as underhanded or unfair. This, of course, is a strength and a weakness- a price Annei gladly pays to keep his conscience clear.

Biography:
The Oho’s occupy large tracts of land scattered across Bear Country. For centuries the family has maintained an ever shifting, but also an ever present foothold in the country’s many wars. As such most regard the clan as royalty even if in practice they are little more than long-lived warlords.

Oho no Annei was the firstborn to a branch of the Oho’s and expected to inherit his father’s dynasty. Like all Ohos he was trained in the arts of combat, warfare, and feudal rule. As a child he was rule-abiding, attentive, and loyal. No one had any reason to doubt he would grow up to do the Oho name proud. Even before he earned the distinction of a military rank, his men called him Prince Annei the Merciful, for his unrelenting positivity and fairness towards those under him.

Then, at the age of 16, Annei took his band of men and abandoned his home and lifestyle. His reasoning he gave as wanting to ‘find his way’. Most of his blood-related family saw it as betrayal, or as an attempt at usurping lands for his own purpose. His own father, fearing the worst, excommunicated the child from succession. Though he continued to use the Oho name, Annei for all intents and purposes was cut from the royal line.

All the better for Annei! He took him men across the country, learning of peoples and places that as a child he only read about. While he scored his share of military successes, the Band of the Light suffered from Annei’s unwillingness to take on jobs he deemed too unsavory. There was much good work to be done, but it all paid paltry sums. Yet with his strength of personality he kept his men loyal and strong. Thiers was not a path of glory, but of redemption.

However one such good-intentioned job proved fatal to the Band of Light. A miko and his followers of terrible and fell strength ambushed Annei’s men in the night, killing nearly all of them with powers incomprehensible to the mind of the young man. Only by his own guile did he manage to barely escape being caught and consumed by the demons that assaulted them. Every soldier perished in the face of an all-encompassing darkness.

The incident provoked Oho no Annei to embark on another quest, to bring to light these evil creatures that he once thought only existed in storybooks. It took another seven years before he finally located what would the Brigade of Light’s headquarters, an isolated little college built on the shores of Long Lake. There he learned of the ancient powers that once roamed the lands- and of their equally strange disappearance. Armed with this knowledge Annei felt compelled to do something about it.

And thus, the Brigade of Light began.

In the twenty years since Annei built the small college up to a medium sized village, complete with its own shrine, soldier training grounds, and schools. A young generation of Valley men and women are just now entering the Brigade eager to follow the beliefs of the organization. In addition in the two decades since the founding he has travelled the world, inviting and recruiting all manner of individuals seeking to join the Brigade in its quest to eliminate the corruption that is beginning to plague the continent.

Since that fateful night Annei has uncovered no trace or trail of the Black Miko that originally decimated his comrades. He does not seek revenge for his fallen men, but instead holds a fear that the horrible ordeal might (or already has) occurred again. Or who knows? Maybe the demons that plague his nightmares have recanted, sworn off their evil, and now live lives of generosity, kindness, and hope.

Physical Description:
Though the decades weigh heavy on her shoulders, Tonegawa still manages to stand ramrod straight with a posture that invokes thoughts of a statue rather than a woman. Her face is long and her deep-set brown eyes are prone to expressing more hostility than she actually feels. A lengthy amount of auburn hair flows up behind her like a banner, usually requiring braiding by attendants lest it get in the way. She speaks in slow waves, gaining momentum with each sentence until she’s frothing at the mouth.

Clothing:
From her days on the battlefield Tonegawa much prefers the male vestments to the flowy shrine maiden ones. A long black overcoat and sturdy boots cover much of her figure and a large brim hat lets her conceal her face and almost, almost pass as a man when needed. The few sparse accessories she wears are a belt loop with the Brigade of Light insignia on it, and a few simple gems used as charms to ward off evil. Once upon a time she had a suit of armor- nobody has seen her in it for years, though.

Personality:
The bar is high for Tonegawa’s standards, and most fail to meet them. Her judgement is severe as it is biting, and she rarely passes up an opportunity to let someone know when they’ve screwed up. Yet despite this gruff exterior there lies…and even rougher interior. She really will not put up with shenanigans, even more so from those she’s come to trust and love. Tonegawa wants the best, of the best, of the best. Even if you aren't the best, that's no excuse not to try! There is nothing quite as sweet as the smile she cracks when seeing someone achieve what they once thought impossible.

Biography:
Twenty-five years ago Tonegawa was nothing but a mercenary working out of Iron Country. Her loyalty she swore to the highest paycheck, which didn’t amount to much anyway. Tonegawa always felt she possessed something of a second sight when it came to judging the character of others, which served her well in combat. She rose to prominence in a mercenary group infamous for running nighttime raids on unsuspecting camps. The band of mercenaries called themselves the Red Hyena Army, and Tonegawa was known as the Rhino for her habit of impaling enemies in reckless charges.

During one such raid Tonegawa the Rhino happened to fight a priest of considerable strength. Despite gaining the upper hand Tonegawa couldn’t bring herself to slay the man as some power compelled her to spare him. He escaped and that moment of weakness forced her comrades in the band to banish her from the group, as the failure cost the mercenaries their pay. So ended the reign of the Rhino.

Afterwards, finally heeding the call of the Kami, Tonegawa entered a convent. There she studied her craft, learning the way of the miko- as well as continuing her study of the sword. In truth she wished to find the priest again, though she could not pinpoint why. With faith in the Kami she set out into the world as a reborn shrine maiden, unsure what she would find.

Unfortunately, without a name or a face, her search proved fruitless. Many evils she met and crushed on her quest, but she never came back across the original priest. In her journeys she met Oho no Annei, the Brigade of Light’s Headmaster. He had been building the Long Lake Academy up for some time, and mentioned its large database of miko. This drew Tonegawa in, and she set out for its campus immediately.

Suffice to say her practical knowledge in the combat of night creatures made her an instant celebrity. Within three years she had risen to the rank of Eparch, and in the following year she was elected as Pontiff of the Hikaru no Ryodan Shrine. There Tonegawa has served for the last eight years, slowly amassing her own books tracking the whereabouts of every priest or priestess the Brigade comes across.

She has not forgotten her goal. Far from it. But for now, she builds her strength and knowledge, and passes it onto others. Kogyoku Tonegawa does not fear death. She does, however, fear the uncertainty of the future.

Physical Description:
Yeah, okay, she’s short, she knows. And the bed-head thing too, it’s not important, don’t bring it up. Yes, her eyes are bad. She’s clumsy. Without a pot of coffee in her, Irio is lethargic and slurs her words. None of these things are news to her. You don’t get to the top being oblivious to your own faults. But just wait until you see her work! She’s the fastest writer, reader, and editor in the Brigade. Her memory is top notch and each year she can recite the entire schedule of the Academy with perfect clarity. She gives a darn good oratory too. Don’t judge a book by its cover!

Clothing:
All of Irio’s clothes are a mess. Wrinkles, stains, strange unidentifiable odors, it’s all there. Thankfully she frequently ‘borrows’ lab coats from adjuncts and in public is rarely seen in her true disastrous state. One might expect the top administrative official of a school as big as the Brigade of Light Academy to put more effort in, but most folks are surprisingly alright with this state of affairs. It just isn’t worth the effort to try and convince the she-devil to dress any other way.

Personality:
A mule in human skin, Irio is as stubborn and argumentative as the most belligerent cave troll you care to find. Smart as a whip, too, which makes the aforementioned behavioral issues that much worse. Get out of her way and she can work miracles in a laboratory. Put her in front of a pen and paper and you’ll have a perfect first draft written up within half a pot of coffee and six hours. Disagree with her conclusions or question her intelligence and, well, things can turn out much less pleasant. Irio rose to the top not by subterfuge or politics but by pure talent, and isn’t afraid to put on the squeeze to get what she wants. She does get along with some people, though! Just not you.

Biography:
Irio was born into a farming family in the belly of Kaze no Kuni. From an early age she developed a hatred of the sun and its vile, burning rays, choosing to stay inside and read rather than play like her other siblings. Her voracious appetite for literature drove her into the arms of another family member who frequently travelled to River Country. There she met her first library, changing her life forever.

By the age of twelve Irio had consumed every novella, encyclopedia, pamphlet, and bubble gum wrapper she could get her hands on. The trite ideas of the past slowly lost their novelty, so she began to produce her own. By the age of fourteen she was writing articles for a local newspaper. By fifteen she was working as a scribe for a Metsubishi corporation. By sixteen she was running and publishing her own journal.

A letter came to Irio from a university while her publication was reaching the height of its popularity. They wanted her to come teach. She wrote back, sending a letter twice as long, detailing everything she hated about that particular school. They never wrote back, but that marked the opening of the floodgates.

For several years Irio was courted by institutions of high learning who were impressed by her academic output. She rejected them all, sometimes publically. Operating out of River, the commerce capital of the shinobi world, what could these backwood loser institutions offer her? Higher education? Ha!

At some point well before her 17th birthday, Irio hosted a guest from the Long Lake Brigade of Light Academy. Having at one point written an article calling the school ‘a bunch of lunatic glory seeking quacks’, she was fully prepared to reject the man in person. The guest was none other than Headmaster Oho no Annei. Though the meeting was scheduled to last only a few minutes, the two spent nearly twenty hours in conversation about a wide variety of topics. At the end a frustrated Irio asked if the Headmaster was offering her a job or not.

Annei laughed, saying that he couldn’t ever employ someone without the proper credentials. He just stopped by for a chat.

Well! If that didn’t just piss Irio right the heck off. The next day she sold her publication and set out for Valley Country’s Long Lake. After acing the Brigade of Light’s entrance exams she breezed through the classes without so much as a hiccup. Within 2 years she earned the distinction of Adjunct. Students flocked to her lessons, not because she was sociable or easy, but because of her mastery of nearly every subject matter the Academy had to offer. They called her a ‘polymath’. She called them ‘morons’.

By the time she reached the distinction of becoming a Professor her talent had already won her over with the faculty. Irio was difficult, abrasive, and rude, but her competency overrode nearly all those character deficits. Also, she knew how to run a business. The egg-headed academics in the Brigade of Light certainly didn’t know the first thing about that. When the vote for Dean of Studies came around it was a near unanimous decision- let the little angry troll lady take the helm.

It’s been two years since then and, hey, things have been working out pretty well! Irio’s got her sights set on the next step of the ladder- the Headmaster position itself. Annei and her still have long talks from time to time, and he welcomes the challenge. Unfortunately she’s not quite popular enough yet, but time is on the side of the young.